Abstract: A method and apparatus automatically switches from one web media type to another, using a single drive roller to access and drive one of two web media supply cassettes mounted within an imaging system. A gear motor and eccentric shaft position and load the drive roller against either of two driven rollers. The media is nipped between the drive roller and one of the driven rollers and is advanced by the drive roller into the imaging system as needed. To switch media supply cassettes, the media is cut beyond the drive roller. The media is then drawn back into the supply cassette to free the media path for the alternate media to advance from the other of the two media supply cassettes.

Abstract: A device for supplying and changing a multiplicity of cables is disclosed ving a cable changing and supply unit, which is provided with stationary reels which guide individual cables fed from a cable storage and releasable clamping elements associated with the individual cables, a movable drive unit having a drive reel and a routing tool which can be positioned by a multi-axial positioning unit provided with a length-cutting unit. The cable changing and supply unit is stationary and connected to the routing tool via a flexible tube. An intermediate storage is located between the cable storage and the cable changing and supply unit for the cables which are cut in the routing tool and returned to the cable changing unit by means of a drive reel.

Abstract: A support spindle apparatus is inserted into the central aperture of a coreless toilet tissue roll to support the coreless toilet tissue roll in a toilet tissue dispenser cabinet having side walls defining at least one elongated, generally vertically oriented slot. The support spindle apparatus includes a double-ended elongated spindle body frictionally engaged with the toilet tissue roll, a roll stop element fixedly attached to the elongated spindle body to positively prevent movement of the coreless toilet tissue roll relative to the support spindle apparatus in a single axial direction, and an enlargement fixedly attached to the elongated spindle body at one end of the elongated spindle body and having a bearing surface oriented toward the roll stop element.

Abstract: A device for feeding reels to a user machine, wherein a stack of reels is fitted on to the vertical guide of a slide of a lifting device; the slide defining a supporting surface for the stack and being moved along the guide by a screw-nut screw device controlled by a control system via a system of sensors, so as to successively feed the reels into a pickup station wherein the reels are fed successively, by a pickup arm, on to a conveyor for feeding the reels to the user machine.

Abstract: A dispenser for rolls of sheet material includes a base or housing for supporting one or more rolls of sheet material. An extension from one side of the housing includes a receiver for receiving one end of an axle/push rod. A journal is positioned on the opposite side of the housing from the receiver. The journal and receiver in turn are positioned along an axis. The axle/push rod has a first section which can be inserted into the center passageway through the roll and extend at least slightly out of the opposite side of the roll. A second section of the axle/push rod abutting the side of the roll has a diameter greater than the passageway through the roll and allows the axle/push rod to push the roll rotatably supported on the first section out of the housing. The entire length of the axle/push rod is greater than twice the length of a roll. The roll on the axle/push rod is then exposed outside the housing for dispension of sheet material.

Abstract: The transfer assembly for a dispensing cabinet for dispensing wound sheet material, such as paper toweling, from a primary roll and a reserve roll includes a transfer arm having a pair of dispensing fingers under which the leading end of the sheet material from the reserve roll is disposed and a sensing arm including a sensing surface over which sheet material from the primary roll being fed into the nip between a drive roller and a pressure roller rides. The transfer arm and sensing arm are mounted for common movement between a non-transfer position wherein the sheet material riding over the sensing surface of the sensing arm, in cooperation with the pulling force being applied thereon by the drive roller, holds the transfer finger away from the nip and a transfer position wherein, in response to the tail end of the sheet material being detached from the primary roll, the transfer arm moves toward the nip and the transfer fingers push sheet material from the reserve roll into the nip.

Abstract: A strip unwinding machine has laterally spaced tracks for receiving opposite ends of a shaft on which a roll of strip mounted. A transfer assembly moves a new roll and shaft along the tracks from a loading position to an unwinding position, and a rotatable unwinding roller is located at the unwinding position. The transfer assembly also urges the roll against the unwinding roller to cause the roll to be rotated thereby with consequent unwinding to the strip from the roll. A raising assembly which rotates completely around the unwinding roller raises a nearly empty roll and shaft at the unwinding position upwardly from the tracks and from the transfer assembly while maintaining engagement of the roll with the unwinding roller to enable a new roll and shaft to be brought to the unwinding position by the transfer assembly.

Abstract: An unwind stand for unwinding rolled material is disclosed in which a movable carriage mounted on a stationary frame includes at least two roll holders adapted to support a roll of material and a shifting mechanism connected to the movable carriage for moving the carriage between a first unwinding position in which a first roll of material supported by a first roll holder is positioned for unwinding, and a second unwinding position in which a second roll of material supported by a second roll holder is positioned for unwinding. Once a roll is in the unwinding position, the shifting mechanism also functions to maintain the material unwinding from the roll in an alignment position in response to an alignment detector by making fine adjustments to the lateral position of the carriage. The unwind stand may also include a rotatable wheel connected to a carrier slidably mounted on a rodless cylinder for applying a radial braking force to the roll of material, thereby imparting tension to the unwinding material.